15-year-old Canadian hockey player reaches $50,000 cancer treatment fundraising goal

Hockey has been a sport of determination, resilience and never giving up. For 15-year-old Alex Bonitatibus it has been no different. But now, the young Canadian is dealing with the biggest challenge of his life after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. As he embarks on a challenging treatment journey, his local hockey community and supporters have come together to help his family reach an initial fundraising goal of $50,000 to access specialized medical care in the United States.A rare and aggressive cancer diagnosisAccording to a news report by Oakville News, Bonitatibus, a former Oakville Ranger now with the Mississauga Terriers, has been diagnosed with parameningeal rhabdomyosarcoma. The rare cancer forms in the soft tissue and muscle around the sinus area and can be particularly difficult to treat because of its location.The close proximity of the tumor to the brain, eye and critical pathways of the central nervous system makes the conventional surgical intervention extremely difficult. Therefore his treatment requires a highly specialized multidisciplinary oncology team capable of delivering precise and specific therapies, explains the online report.The complexity of the diagnosis has meant that Alex and his family have made it a priority to access advanced medical expertise.